Chapter II – The Festival
Hyuga Neji felt a cold fabric in his forehead, taking him away from his dreams (or nightmares). Slowly opening his eyes, he could see the frames of his own bedroom, no lights except for the ones which came from outside his window. And he also saw the tiny shadow of his young cousin. She was the one who kept watering his forehead, trying to lower his fever.
"Hi, nii-san…"
"hgmf. What are you doing here"
"A-a-a-a I .. was taking care of you…"
His glare was saying – I don't need your pity or care- but his physical condition was far from his truth.
"Go home"
"I, um, I .. don't want to be there…to be at home…" – she said in a faltering voice.
"So go to anywhere, but here."
"Are you mad at me?" – she asked really slowly.
"Not you, but I don't want to see anyone right now, and…agh" – Neji felt his head ache and blood was coming out of his nose.
Hinata held his head up and cleaned his nostrils whit the fabric.
"A-a-are you okay?"
When she made a movement to water the fabric again, Neji saw some bandages around her wrists. New bandages, because she didn't had them before, during the meeting.
"What are those?"
Blushing and pushing her kimono sleeves to cover the bandages, she managed to say , almost whispering," nothing". Of course the "human lie detector" didn't buy this one and grabbed her wrists so he could see better that wounds.
"These are made by sharp razor. What were you thinking? Kill yourself?" – he said in a loud tone, the louder he could get in his condition.
"I-I-I …I'm not strong like you…Father said you betted your life for what you believe…t-t-t-that is why you endured the pain…"
"And….WHY ATTEMPT SUICIDE?" – he was angry.
"I-I thought that, maybe…If I could endure pain …I would be braver…to face Father and the council…But.."
"Do you have any idea how stupid you sound? I'm no fool, you attempted suicide Hinata! Damn! I'm supposed to protect you, remember! That's my Holy duty in this fucking clan! How am I supposed to protect a suicidal?"
"I-It was not death wish…really…I I was…(sob) I only…"- words could no longer be formed as she started an internal fight to stop the tears that insisted on fall.
"Look. I wanted to die, from this damned seal, but die fighting. If you want to die, at least, do it with honor. Arranged marriage is no reason for seppuku".
Neji rested his head in the pillow again, Hinata was looking her own scars, as if they could tell her some hidden truth. He was right, she was running away again.
"Get out of here, and try not to do stupid things"
She was ready to protest when someone called from outside:
"HINATA-CHAN"
"It's…Kiba-kun's voice…"
"hm…seems like"
"OI HINATA! AREN'T YOU READY FOR THE FESTIVAL?"
The festival! She had forgotten! The best kimono, the best hairstyle, her love confession all seemed so far away now.
"I'm not going. Don't feel like enjoying myself today"
"You should go"
"HINATA-CHAN"
"But I, you are not OK. …"
"Just go or the Inuzuka will blow my head with his screams"
Hinata stood up and moved to the window:
"K-Kiba-kun, I'm over here"
"Hu? What are you doing in there, isn't the Servants quarter?"
"I-I-I'm taking care of…" –She paused when saw Neji sat in the bed, looking at her whispering:
"Go. Have fun. We don't know when another chance will appear. Don't worry, I just need some rest."
"I'm staying here. With you, nii-san." – she sounded pretty resolute.
"Hey, Hinata. Who are you talking to? Com on, let's go! Everybody is waiting!"- Kiba said.
"Kiba-kun, I'm sorry, but I-I-I'm not go…"
She was just interrupted by Neji, who joined her in the window, saying:
"We'll be ready in some minutes. Wait a little, OK!"
"Uh, Okay. Nice you're joining us Neji! Never thought you were a Festival type!"
"yeah…me neither" – Said Neji, already moving towards his closet to pick-up some clothes.
"Y-you c-can't go! You are not w-well, nii-san!" – Hinata squeaked.
"You are not leaving my side, right. And I want you to go to the damn festival, so I'm going too."- although it was supposed to sound funny, his tone was pretty angry and cold.
'But, but, …"
"Go get dressed! Met me in the hallway in ten minutes"
"What are you waiting? I need to change my clothes and I don't have problems to do it with someone staring at me. What about you? And let's not tell them about the arrangement"
Hinata fled from his bedroom. She knew that he WOULD change clothes with or without her presence. Moreover, she had to go to the festival because of Neji's pride. She would keep an eye on him.
The five – Shino, Kiba, Akamaru, Hinata and Neji- walked to Konoha's square, where the Spring Festival would be held that year. Kiba talked all way long, how fantastic had been his last mission, how he and Akamaru defeated lots of enemy ninjas, boosted about almost everything. Hinata listened (or pretended to listen) her friend, nodding time to time. Shino walked beside her, nobody could say what he was thinking. Neji was a few steps behind, having trouble to control his balance, focus his eyesight, and look cool.
At the square, the party immediately found Tenten and Lee.
"NEJI! MY SWORN RIVAL AND FRIEND! NEVER IMAGINED THAT YOU, OF ALL PEOPLE, WOULD COME TO THIS BEAUTIFUL DISPLAY OF YOUTH AND JOY FOR THE YEAR'S MOST BELOVED SEASON: SPRING!"
"Hi, Lee. Nice to see you, too" – Neji just waved.
Tenten looked to her friend and approached him.
"You OK? Seems to me that you are a little drowsy… Did you drink something before coming?"- she , close enough so no one could hear.
"I'm having a big headache, but Hiashi-sama said Hinata-sama could only come if I'm together, so…" – big liar you are, Neji. Good that none of them is a human lie detector like you.
Not very long, the group encountered Naruto, Sakura, Sai, Shikamaru, Ino (who was arguing with Sakura) and Chouji.
"OEE. Everyone is here! Cool! Let's have a great time!" – Naruto waved his hands, almost jumping with joy.
They walked amongst the food and games stands. Naruto and Lee adored one of those games that measure force, competing to decide who was the strongest. Figures that the real winner was Chouji.
Sakura, Ino and Hinata appreciated the cuteness of teddy bears and other animals, prizes in a shooting game. Sai got Sakura a teddy bear, Shino got Hinata a bunny and Shikamaru tried to get Ino a pony, but since it was too troublesome he gave up, and got only a pig keychain. No need to say that he heard a mouthful from the blond kunoichi.
To avoid Shikamaru's murder by Ino, the group decided to try the fishing game. It would be Shikamaru's chance to redemption, since he was good at fishing.
Tenten never left Neji's side. She was really concerned about him: Neji was quiet, but today he was odd, somehow depressed. But Lee almost forced her to enter in the fishing contest because she had the best aim, and would certainly get the prize, and she was the only female that didn't got a cute toy.
Neji, spent most of the fun time seated in a bench, eyelids almost closed. Sometimes, his head ached like it would blow away, his nose and ears were still pouring blood. Every time it happened, he tried to clean as fast as anyone could see. But Sai saw, and sat beside him on the bench.
"You're not OK. From what I see, this tissue of yours is imbibed in blood"
"It's not your concern"
"No, but how far you intent to go? They may look like fools, but they are shinobis. Someone will notice, y'know."
"Leave me alone"
"If you wanted to be alone, you shouldn't have come to this Festival in first place, huh?"
"GET OUT…"
Just then, his head ached like hell, and his ears and nose bleed so much that he couldn't clean it. He felt numb, dizzy, voices calling him from afar…
"Neji!NEJI!" – Tenten called
"Sai, you bastard! What have you done?" – Sakura screamed.
"Neji, pal, talk to me! Somebody get Granny Tsunade here! NOW!" – Naruto. Neji just thought how a moron like Naruto was a natural leader in such situations.
"Leave him alone! I must take him back home" – Hinata was trying to gain control of the situation.
"No. He's going straight to the Hospital." – and that was the Godaime voice.
He could still hear Hinata beg to take him home, but Tsunade said a really strong "NO" and he felt somebody carrying him, "a green spandex", Lee or Gai-sensei. And then, he passed out, twice in that same day. What a genius…